Cities Near The Lake District That Are Worth VIsiting!
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If you’re visiting the Lake District for the first time, you may be looking at what cities are nearby to extend your trip and explore some more of England!
Luckily, the Lake District is super accessible and is close to a number of cities such as Carlisle, Preston, Blackpool and even Manchester. Even London is only a 2.5-hour train journey away (yes, England is tiny!)
The Lake District is my FAVOURITE place in the whole of the UK, and I want you to have the most perfect time when you visit.
So getting there needs to be easy – and extending your trip and seeing some of the nearby cities is a bonus!
NOTE: This blog post is NOT about towns and villages IN the Lake District. It is about the cities NEAR the Lake District. For the best places to stay IN the Lake District, check out my full area guide here!
Cities Near The Lake District: A List
Let’s have a look at some of the best cities near the Lake District.
All distances and times below are from the town of Kendal unless stated otherwise.
Notable cities near the Lake District:
- Lancaster: 23 miles, 38 minute drive
- Carlisle: 35 miles, 45 minute drive (from Keswick)
- Penrith: 28 miles, 46 minute drive
- Preston: 43 miles, 55 minute drive
- Blackpool: 54 miles, 1 hour drive
- Blackburn: 50 miles, 1 hour drive
- Liverpool: 79 miles, 1 hour 43 minute drive
- Manchester/Manchester Airport: 73 miles, 1.5 hour drive
- Leeds: 72 miles, 2 hour drive
Some of these towns are an amazing addition to an English road trip, and are the perfect way to see some more of the country!
If you’re flying to England for the Lake District, Manchester Airport is the closest you can get. From there, you’ll need to either board a train, hire a car or jump on a bus.
Or, if it’s cheaper to fly into London, simply get a 2.5-hour train from Euston up to Oxenholme to reach the National Park!
How to get to the Lake District from Manchester/Manchester Airport
- 🚗 Driving distance from Manchester to Kendal: 73 miles, with an average driving time of 90 minutes
- 🚎 Bus: Yes, buses run from Kendal to Deansgate in Manchester. Tickets and timings can be easily booked on Busbud here!
- 🚝 Train: Yes, from Manchester Piccadilly to Oxenholme or Windermere. This journey is around 1 hour and 45 minutes and can be booked here on Trainline.
Trains go regularly throughout the day to Windermere, taking 1 hour 39 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly station with one change at Oxenholme.
Manchester is one of the best cities in England to visit; whether you’re from London, somewhere else in the UK or an international tourist.
We love heading up to Manchester for the weekend to experience the nightlife, try some of the delicious food and get stuck into the Mancunian way of life.
If you’re visiting the Lake District and want to experience what a UK city is like, Manchester is a great option. It’s only a 90-minute drive away (that’s nothing for you guys from the US!) and is a great insight into British culture.
How to get to the Lake District from Carlisle
- 🚗 Driving distance from Carlisle to Keswick: 35 miles, 45-minute drive
- 🚎 Bus: Yes.
Option 1: the 554 goes direct from Carlisle to Keswick and takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Option 2: two buses, the 104 from Carlisle to Penrith, then the X4/X5 Gold Bus to the Keswick Park Hotel. This takes around 90 minutes.
- 🚝 Train: Yes, although there is no direct train. You will need to board a train from Carlisle to Penrith, and then get the X4 or X5 Gold bus to the Keswick Park Hotel. This again takes around 90 minutes.
Carlisle is another popular city near the Lake District that’s worth a visit if you have time! It’s close to the Scottish border and is full of pubs, cafes, shops and local walks.
Whenever we get the train to Scotland, we pass through Carlisle just before crossing the border – so I always remember it for being the home of the famous Hadrian’s Wall – a wall that dates back to Roman Britannia which can be easily visited as a day trip!
As it’s not too far from the Lake District, it’s an easy overnight stop or way to access the National Park. If you find budget accommodation there, it might even be worth booking your stay in Carlisle (the Lake District isn’t cheap!)
How to get to the Lake District from Blackpool
- 🚗 Driving distance from Blackpool to Kendal: 54 miles, roughly an hour drive
- 🚎 Bus: Yes, although you will need to change at least once in Lancaster. The journey by bus will take a long time (over 3.5 hours!) so I don’t recommend it unless you’re desperate!
- 🚝 Train: Yes, to Oxenholme, although there are no direct trains. You’ll need to board two trains, one to Preston, and then one to Oxenholme (which is in the Lake District). You can book tickets on Trainline here!
Have you even been to England if you haven’t visited Blackpool?!
Home of the iconic Blackpool Tower, Blackpool is known for its eclectic Pleasure Beach and for being the home of ballroom dancing.
Stroll along the pebbled beach with the smell of fish and chips in the air, the buzzing sounds from the amusement games and the enthusiastic roars from the local fairground rides. It’s like stepping back in time – but we love it.
If you have the luxury of time and budget on your side, stay overnight in the city of Blackpool for an authentic British seaside experience! (And if you don’t like it, don’t hate me).
How to get to the Lake District from Leeds
- 🚗 Driving distance from Leeds to Kendal: 72 miles, 2 hour drive
- 🚎 Bus: Yes, but with quite a few changes and a 5/6 hour journey! I don’t recommend getting the bus from Leeds to the lakes unless it’s absolutely necessary.
- 🚝 Train: Yes, getting the train from Leeds to the Lake District is easy. You’ll just need to change once at Manchester Piccadilly, and it takes around 3.5-4 hours. You can book your tickets on Trainline here!
Finally, Leeds is another great city to visit from the Lake District. It’s one of the liveliest cities in the UK, and is known for its independent food scene, crazy nightlife, award-winning arts scene and great shopping!
Leeds is a great weekend city break, and even as someone who’s based and lives in London, I’d say it’s worth a visit because of how fun and diverse it is!
Leeds is too far from the Lake District to travel to and from each day, but it’s a great extension to an English road trip if you have a few spare days.
Cities near the Lake District: FAQs
1) What cities are near the Lake District?
Some of the biggest cities near the Lake District (under a one-hour drive) include Lancaster, Carlisle, Penrith and Preston. Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds are all within a 2-hour drive from the Lake District, too!
2) What is the main town in the Lake District?
Keswick and Ambleside are the main towns in the Lake District. They’re both popular places to stay for first-time visitors and those wanting to soak up the English countryside, do some hiking and stay in a quintessential village.
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Cities near the Lake District: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about cities that are near to the Lake District.
When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below! It makes my day to know I’ve helped you on your travels!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
